South West France Wine

South West France, or Sud Ouest, is a large expanse that covers several districts within the country, with the exception of Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Rousillon. The Romans were the first to produce wine here, long before Bordeaux vineyards were ever established. In the early Middle Ages, with a now established Bordeaux region, this area was referred to as “High Country.” Both areas would send their goods via tributaries of the main rivers, the Garonne and Dordogne, to other areas off the Atlantic Coast. High Country grapes ripened sooner than in Bordeaux, so the wines could be bottled and sold more quickly, which threatened Bordeaux producers who wanted their piece of the action. In the 13th and 14th century, the Bordelais established the “police des vins” which stipulated that no High Country wine could be sold until most of the Bordeaux wine left port. Barrels of South West wine would sit in storage, fetching much lower prices in the already saturated marketplace once they could Read more »

South West France, or Sud Ouest, is a large expanse that covers several districts within the country, with the exception of Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Rousillon. The Romans were the first to produce wine here, long before Bordeaux vineyards were ever established. In the early Middle Ages, with a now established Bordeaux region, this area was referred to as “High Country.” Both areas would send their goods via tributaries of the main rivers, the Garonne and Dordogne, to other areas off the Atlantic Coast. High Country grapes ripened sooner than in Bordeaux, so the wines could be bottled and sold more quickly, which threatened Bordeaux producers who wanted their piece of the action. In the 13th and 14th century, the Bordelais established the “police des vins” which stipulated that no High Country wine could be sold until most of the Bordeaux wine left port. Barrels of South West wine would sit in storage, fetching much lower prices in the already saturated marketplace once they could move. In some vintages, High Country wines never even left port.

This is the main reason why the spotlight always seems to be on Bordeaux, and why the Bordeaux grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc are given the most clout. The grapes grown in the South West are considered more rustic and obscure country grapes. But there was a time Tannat, Malbec, Fer Servadou, Gros and Petit Manseng, Merille, Duras, Len de L’El, Muscadelle, Chenin Blanc, and Ondenc could have been just as famous.

The climate and topography within the South West is diverse, owing to many styles of wine produced. Robust red wine dominates Buzet, Gaillac, Marcillac, Millau, Pecharmant, Fronton, and Coteaux du Quercy. Tannat is the starring red grape of Madiran, and Cahors is where Malbec reigns supreme. Other subregions such as Bergerac, Bearn, Tursan, Cotes de Duras, Cotes du Saint-Mont, Montravel, and Vins d’Estaing are both red and white. Rosés are produced throughout these regions. Pecherenc du Vic-Bilh is only white. Sparkling and sweet wines are also produced throughout the South West.

Jurançon is a white wine produced with varying degrees of residual sugar, from the grapes

Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Courbu, Camaralet, and Lauzet. The lighest of these, Jurançon Sec, is nearly dry to off-dry, and the more famous Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (late harvest) is fully sweet.

Monbazillac is the South West’s answer to Sauternes, with rich, nutty, late harvest dessert wines produced from the Botrytised (“noble rot”) grapes of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. Rosette and Saussignac are similar, but lesser known sweet-only appellations with the same grape trifecta.

The distinctive Armagnac brandy is produced in Gascony. It’s made from Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and small percentages of Folles Blanches, Jurançon, and Graisse grapes. Some of the grapes are used to produce a still wine called Côtes de Gascogne, and there is also Floc de Gascogne, which is a mixture of Armagnac and still wine. For more information on Armagnac, please see Armagnac.

This much-maligned region is finally starting to get its due, with more commercial focus on the wines and regional grapes. These wines often offer excellent value for the price, and tend to be quite food-friendly. ~Amanda Schuster

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According to the Wine Institute, in 2015, over 28 million liters of wine were produced by sixty-three different wine producing countries. There are currently 195 different countries in our world, which means that a whopping one third of it is making wi...

Earthy, stemmy and herbal on the nose with some sweet, small berry, wild berry fruit tones floating in the glass. A bit tough in the mouth with chewy tannins plenty of richness remaining. there’s great depth to the fruit here, all mineral and dried her...

Dark and smoky red fruit aromas with minerality and salinity on the nose. Refreshing in the mouth, this shows good blueberry, cranberry and raspberry fruit notes with tart medicine notes and a stony almost briny finish with notes of earth, tar and leather.
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Refreshing and fun to drink. Raspberry, strawberry with bright acidity. The temps have been in the high 80's and finally 90 for several days so I served this with watermelon and it worked - wonderfully. Great little quaffer - drink now - Paul 88 points
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Lithe and with a straw note and a slight separation ring this provides many citrus and melon noted with bright acidity that provides a refreshing and uplifting finish. Go ahead and buy 6 or 8 bottles of this. Paul 88 points
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Old world in style with low abv 12%. Smoked meat on the nose; reminded me of country ham. Red fruit with medium acidity and smooth mouth drying tannins on the finish.
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Wine review
by
RandyFisher

April 2016

Last night I started a bottle of Chateau de Sabazan Saint Mont 2012 from the co-operative group Producteurs Plaimont in south-west France with my pork chop supper. Saint Mont only got appellation status in 2011 and I thought it a little unusual [ 70% tannant,15% cabernet sauvignon.10% braucol and 5% cabernet franc ] There is an intense cherry,b...
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I bought this bottle of wine from a shop in London's Kensington [www.nicolas.co.uk] for £16. Saint Mont got appellation status in 2011 for red,white and rose wines from 46 communes around the medieval Benedictine Abbey which once featured on the pilgrim route to Spain and where the vineyard is still in operation.Saint Mont is located 25 miles no...
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I bought this bottle of wine from a shop in London's Kensington [www.thesampler.co.uk]. Gaillac is an appellation created in 1938,although viticulture in the area goes back to at least the Romans,for red,rose,white and sparkling wines from 50 communes around the small town of that name some 30 miles north-east of Toulouse in the Tarn valley.Ther...
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